Body Snatchers

Maybe the town council has been switched with pod people and we need to look for the shrunken husks of the originals....but I like the replacements so let us keep these new ones for now.

The town council met this week and formalized the final version of the liquor ordinance and damned if I am left in shock and awe.

The first item is the residency requirement.

The Town Council will likely loosen residency rules for those looking to operate a liquor store..
..........
The state only requires anyone who desires to open a store has lived in Tennessee for two years

Out the door. I can understand the feeling that this would be the best for the towns residence, but it had no real purpose in an ordinance and I'm so glad to see it gone.

The next item uses a phrase that simple dazzled me.

...as well as eliminate a cap on the number of stores in town.
...
Officials initially discussed allowing one store per 10,000 residents, but decided that it would be best to allow the market to determine how many stores should be open.

Yes! The limit on numbers was one of the more bothersome things put forth and to see it die simply is glorious. The people and market place should decide. Yes!

They still have a setback of 500 feet. I thought I had heard that 1000 feet was being bantered around, but 500 is better then that.

In the end the new package liquor ordinances as reported in this news article is not as regulatory as I worried it would be. By removing a few of the more goofy parts I'm pretty happy on how the town performed.

Hello all this wonderful Independence Day week. How the heck are you?

Well let's get down to business. The Smyrna town government will be shut down for Friday the 4th. Meeting wise it will be rather fun...for me.

Sister City Committee: July 1, 2008 -6:00 PM
Beautification Committee: July 1, 2008 - 6:30 PM
Planning Commission: July 1, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Storm Water Advisory Committee: July 3, 2008 - 6:00 PM

The July 3rd Storm Water Advisory Committee will be our last meeting un televised. Seems with our new storm water ordinances the need for the way the meetings are carried out to be changed. That means my ugly mug will be up on the stand.

Around town or in the near distance(the distance I list has been shortened due to gas prices. Ouch!)

Celebration Under the Stars
July 04, 2008
Held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University(intramural field) Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m., Free admission. From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, games, and arts ‘n’ crafts projects. Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:50 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives. At 8:00 p.m., following the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard and singing of the national anthem by MTSU Associate Professor H. Stephen Smith, the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra will present a program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing Sousa marches, and inspirational classics. Dr. Raphael Bundage, professor in the MTSU School of Music, will conduct. The fireworks display will light up the sky at 9:00 p.m. Contact: Marlane Sewell, Parks and Rec, 615-893-2141

Stones River National Battlefield is busy with two activities this coming weekend you might want to plan for.

Reminiscing in Blue and Gray Tours
July 05, 2008
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. Visitors will be able to tour the battlefield and share the stories of Union and Confederate soldiers. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615) 893-9501

Hallowed Ground: A Lantern Light Tour of the Stones River National Cemetery
July 05, 2008
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. Hallowed Ground is an hour long tour through the Stones River National Cemetery. Visitors will learn to look beyond the stones and into the stories of the men and women who felt the impact of war. Reservations are required and must be made by phone starting at 9:00 a.m. the Monday preceding the program. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615) 893-9501

For kids who like big fuzzy things, the Smyrna public library has something for you.

Tuesday July 1st.
Snowbird to visit Toddler Time at Smyrna Public Library: 10 a.m., for children ages 2 and 3. 400 Enon Springs Road W., Smyrna. 615-459-4884.
Wednesday July 2rd
Scott Tripp, magic and balloons to visit Smyrna Public Library: 10 a.m. Library located at 400 Enon Springs Road W., Smyrna. 615-459-4884.

The month is almost over and car emission testing sites are full, but since they ALL will be closed on the 4th, please prepare for even longer lines then normal.

Well that's the basic roundup for this week in Smyrna. If you have an event you would like mentioned please do not hesitate to email me at the contact link at the top right of this web page.

One, Two, Three. What are they voting for? Don't ask me I...simply don't know

In the meetings of the town of Smyrna the Tuesday town council meeting will have the second and FINAL vote for the town budget. As the title of this post implies I find again the total lack of an online presence of information on what should be considered very important. Important enough to go out of your way to make getting this information as easy as possible.

The Town Council for the Town of Smyrna will hold a public hearing on June 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Smyrna Town Hall, 315 South Lowry Street, in order to receive public opinion prior to considering on second and final reading an ordinance adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.

I openly stated on this blog about being impressed with the online nature of the new storm water ordinances and how the town government handled it. I can't say that this time.

Here we have the budget for the whole town that will affect taxes, and future development for each and every one of you, and the only way to get it...I guess, would to go to the town hall and purchase a copy on CD. I feel the need to repeat myself about the ease of posting pdf's and such, but the town government knows this because of the Storm Water ordinance page.

The availability to easily get information is a failing that the electronic age generation notices. Even if tomorrow a town employee fixes this 'failing' it would only give the citizens of Smyrna a bit over 24 hours to review the budget for the next year.

This week the town council only has a couple of meetings of record.

Next Town Council Meeting is: June 10, 2008 - 7:00 PM
The Town Council for the Town of Smyrna will consider on first reading an ordinance relative to the storm water user fee on June 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Smyrna Town Hall, 315 South Lowry Street.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Town Council for the Town of Smyrna will hold a public hearing on June 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Smyrna Town Hall, 315 South Lowry Street, in order to receive public opinion prior to considering on second and final reading an ordinance adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.

I'll post the agenda below.

The second meeting is the project assistance.

Project Assistance: June 10, 2008 -5:30PM

On the non-government side this week we will be getting a bit more chubbier as BBQ is in town.

5th Annual Tennessee Heritage BBQ Festival
Held at the Sam Davis Home and Museum, 1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna. Event includes professional and amateur barbeque cooks vying for cash prizes along with entertainment, crafts, good food, living history demonstrations and lots of family fun. Contact: Sam Davis Home and Museum, (615) 459-2341
www.tennesseeheritagebarbecuefestival.com

more

I loved the one last year but have to admit my BBQ heart is stuck in the giant Owensboro BBQ festival. Forgive me Smyrna.

This week it came to my attention by way of one of the DNJ's new blogs by Taylor Loyal that the Lamplighter's Theatre is going to be putting on a play that deals with a small and mostly unknown piece of American history.

Next weekend (June 12 - 15), there's going to be a great play in Lamplighter's Black Box Theatre -- a smaller room upstairs that features more personal productions.

The play is called The Andersonville Trials. It's a historical courtroom drama about the only soldier in the Civil War to be tried of war crimes, convicted and hanged.

The director, Mike Parker, is a veteran. He told me the play is designed to be entertaining, but also to raise some ethical questions.

More can be read on Andersonville here.

Well that is a basic roundup of what is happening in Smyrna this week.

2008-06 10TCA - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: 2008-06 10TCA

My view

The dream of Smyrna seems to be a well trimmed yard, a quiet neighbor dog, and a sedan car in every driveway all in a Leave it to Beaver setting. Well June Cleaver never existed, the beaver was an actor, and this isn’t Hollywood. A set piece neighborhood that only exists in the dreams of the TV viewers or the Town planners that are seeing our future, and it is all I cannot bare.

If you want straight lines, clean areas, and a life of no variety then you would be the type to work well in a cubicle based office structure. Where each office is the same size, the same lighting, and the same color. All regulated and prone to be soul sucking.

Just one problem with those who live in the cubicle hive. They not only want you to join them, they will force you to by hook or crook. "They" are the town government and all that is wrong with the path that is being taken.

Smyrna is at that awkward stage of development. The growth that is happening is glorious to behold.. A new building going up every week it seems, and new people being hired. The future of Smyrna is being decided today, but is it in the interest of you the resident of Smyrna, or the perceived needs of the town and its future?

You might be surprised that I feel some laws are good. My views do not fall into the anti-government camp on all issues, but in a restricted view of government. Laws are for those who cannot. The one who cannot understand why 30 wrecked cars in his backyard is bad, or the one who cannot understand that parties every night until 3Am is a nuisance. The problem is that most, if not all government so easily slide from the "laws to assist the people" to "laws needed to control the people". When this occurs we end up with rules on the height of bushes, the length and type of fences and the type of material your driveway can be made out of.

Smyrna has slipped over that line in the past and damned if I will sit back and quietly go into that well regulated and organized future that they are deciding for me one committee meeting at a time.

The people in the area that the historic district wish to expand, or infect in my view, have spoken out that they do not wish it. The meeting Tuesday night was to get their input and from what I saw it was anti-expansion. The problem is that the town has an idea that this is needed because the land need protecting from the people. You might disagree, but this view is held by more then just myself.

We will see in the next few months how well the town listens to the people, or if the people speak, but are not heard. The people of Smyrna are about to get a lesson in their future. Will they decide it, or will it be rammed down their throats one ordinance at a time?

Historical District Workshop

The historical downtown district might need to be renamed simply "Historical district" because a move is on to grow.

The most recent attempt to "grow" was voted down as blogged so well by our anonymous guest in his two part post [1,2]. I now have a pdf of how much they were going to grow.

Here is "alt a" to give you a basic idea of how damnably far they plan on infecting our town with a whole new layer of regulations.

alt a - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: alt a

This was voted down, but unlike my request for a "good fowl system" that was brushed off, they are coming back to the feeding trough for 'feedback' from the area.

Historic District Expansion Workshop - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: Historic District Expansion Workshop

If you like controlling your own property as much as they currently allow, then get your butt there and inform them of your displeasure.

In Smyrna this week the town has three meetings scheduled

Next Town Council Meeting is: May 13, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Board of Zoning Appeals: May 15, 2008 - 5:00 PM
Project Assistance: May 13, 2008 -5:30PM

The town meeting agenda is below for those who would like to view it.

The meeting marked "Project assistance" is about utilities for those in need.

PROJECT ASSISTANCE
Giving those in our community in need a hand up with their utility bills. It's easy. All you have to do is add $1.00 to your monthly utility bill. Just ask the Smyrna Utility Representative how to help those unable to pay their utility bill.

A voluntary town run program. Sounds good to me.

2008-05 13TCA - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: 2008-05 13TCA

There are two local cultural events that might be worth attending.

A Day of Washing, Churning, and Learning
May 13, 2008 - May 14, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum for school children ages K-6. Teachers can plan a day of hands-on-activities, demonstrations, crafts, and games. From 9:00am – 1:00pm, children can experience chores from the 1860’s when they wash clothes on a washboard, make candles, churn butter, and beat the rugs. To make reservations for home school, private school, or public school groups, please contact Mary Beth Nevills at (615)893-0022 or mb@oaklandsmuseum.org

While this is good, there is nothing better then FREE!

Free Day in May
May 17, 2008
Sponsored by the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Bradley Academy, Cannonsburgh Village, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Oaklands Historic House Museum, Sam Davis Home and Museum and Stones River National Battlefield will be open free of charge. Be a tourist in your own backyard! It will be a great opportunity to discover or rediscover all of the Rutherford County attractions at no cost. Contact: Chamber of Commerce, (615) 893-6565

These are just a few of the items happening in or near our town this week.

You're Invited! Saturday February 24th - Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcaster's Group Meeting

It is time again for the Middle Tennessee Blogger and Podcaster's Group meeting. Meet us Saturday, February 24th at 2:00 PM at Espresso Joe's in Smyrna, TN. Come out and talk with your favorite bloggers and podcasters... Introduce yourself and join in the live, face to face conversation and recording.

Our topics range from technology to television. You're sure to find a thread that is of interest. I would like to have someone from the Linux community come out and speak with us about the lastest release, Ubuntu 6.10.

Last month's cast of characters include:

Ivy of Bad Bad Ivy
Shauna of Oh Pish Posh
Michael of Big Orange Michael and This is Smyrna, TN
Kathy T of LaVergne-TN and Where's the Mute Button
Ginger of Ginger Snaps
Chip of Chip Talks
Malia of Musings from Malicious
Elizabeth of Harelipfrog
Gunner of No Quarters and This Is Smyrna, TN
and the delightful Megs of a future blog